Literary theme analysis, by a book like {foo}
Books about Opportunity
The Grapes of Wrath
by John Steinbeck
A family's struggle to survive the Great Depression, their journey in search of a new life.
The narrative begins just after Tom Joad is paroled from McAlester prison , where he had been incarcerated after being convicted of homicide in self-defense. While hitchhiking to his home near ... (Wikipedia)
The Crossover
by Kwame Alexander
Two brothers explore the joys and struggles of adolescence through the power of basketball.
New York Times, bestseller ∙ Newbery Medal Winner ∙, Coretta Scott King Honor Award ∙,2015 YALSA 2015 Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults,∙, 2015 YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers ... (Barnes & Noble)
An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth
by Chris Hadfield
Experiences and insights from a veteran astronaut's career, empowering readers to achieve their greatest goals.
Colonel Chris Hadfield has spent decades training as an astronaut and has logged nearly 4000 hours in space. During this time he has broken into a Space Station with a Swiss army knife, disposed of a ... (Goodreads)
Outliers: The Story of Success
by Malcolm Gladwell
Examining the keys to success, exploring the cultural, family, and psychological factors that drive achievement.
Learn what sets high achievers apart – from Bill Gates to the Beatles -- in this #1 bestseller from "a singular talent" (,New York Times Book Review,). In this stunning book, Malcolm Gladwell takes ... (Goodreads)
Q & A
by Vikas Swarup
An impoverished man's journey of luck and circumstance that leads to a life-changing prize.
Vikas Swarup's spectacular debut novel opens in a jail cell in Mumbai, India, where Ram Mohammad Thomas is being held after correctly answering all twelve questions on India's biggest quiz show, Who ... (Goodreads)
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
by Harriet Ann Jacobs
A harrowing account of a young woman's experiences as a slave in the American South.
The true story of an individual's struggle for self-identity, self-preservation, and freedom, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl remains among the few extant slave narratives written by a woman. ... (Goodreads)
The Road Not Taken and Other Poems
by Robert Frost
Collection of poems exploring the power of choice, the passage of time, and the beauty of nature.
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I– I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." These deceptively simple lines from the title poem of this collection suggest Robert ... (Goodreads)
Losing My Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way
by Richard Branson
Autobiography of Richard Branson, detailing his entrepreneurial journey from starting a student magazine to building a global business empire.
"Oh, screw it, let's do it." That's the philosophy that has allowed Richard Branson, in slightly more than twenty-five years, to spawn so many successful ventures. From the airline business (Virgin ... (Goodreads)
The Pursuit of Happyness
by Chris Gardner
A man's inspiring story of overcoming poverty and adversity to achieve success.
, The astounding yet true rags-to-riches saga of a homeless father who raised and cared for his son on the mean streets of San Francisco and went on to become a crown prince of Wall Street, , , At ... (Goodreads)
You Can Be a Stock Market Genius: Uncover the Secret Hiding Places of Stock Market Profits
by Joel Greenblatt
A guide to finding profitable investment opportunities in the stock market by identifying special situations and hidden gems.
A comprehensive and practical guide to the stock market from a successful fund manager—filled with case studies, important background information, and all the tools you’ll need to become a stock ... (Goodreads)
Founders at Work: Stories of Startups' Early Days
by Jessica Livingston
Collection of stories from some of the greatest entrepreneurs, sharing their journey and experiences as founders.
Founders at Work: Stories of Startups' Early Days is a collection of interviews with founders of famous technology companies about what happened in the very earliest days. These people are ... (Goodreads)
The Adventures of Augie March
by Saul Bellow
Young man's search for identity amidst the chaotic and unpredictable life of the Depression-era Midwest.
The story describes Augie March's growth from childhood to a fairly stable maturity. Augie, with his brother Simon and the mentally abnormal George have no father and are brought up by their mother ... (Wikipedia)
A Raisin in the Sun
by Lorraine Hansberry
A black family's struggle for a better life and the dreams that accompany their journey.
Walter and Ruth Younger, their son Travis, along with Walter's mother Lena (Mama) and Walter's sister Beneatha, live in poverty in a dilapidated two-bedroom apartment on Chicago's south side. Walter ... (Wikipedia)
The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League
by Jeff Hobbs
A poignant biography of a man's rise and fall, caught in the crossfire of economic and social inequality.
An instant, New York Times, bestseller, named a best book of the year by, The New York Times Book Review, Amazon, and, Entertainment Weekly, among others, this celebrated account of a young ... (Barnes & Noble)
My Beloved World
by Sonia Sotomayor
Autobiographical account of a Latina's path to the Supreme Court, overcoming personal and systemic obstacles.
The first Latinx (Puerto Rican) and third woman appointed to the US Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor has become an instant American icon. Now, with a candor and intimacy never undertaken by a sitting ... (Goodreads)
A Countess Below Stairs
by Eva Ibbotson
A young woman takes on the identity of a housemaid in a wealthy Russian household, discovering a new life and unexpected love.
After the Russian revolution turns her world topsy-turvy, Anna, a young Russian Countess, has no choice but to flee to England. Penniless, Anna hides her aristocratic background and takes a job as ... (Goodreads)
The Heretic Queen
by Michelle Moran
The story of Nefertari, an ambitious and powerful queen of Ancient Egypt.
In ancient Egypt, a forgotten princess must overcome her family’s past and remake history. The winds of change are blowing through Thebes. A devastating palace fire has killed the Eighteenth ... (Goodreads)
The Assassin and the Healer
by Sarah J. Maas
After being betrayed, an assassin seeks refuge in a foreign city and meets a healer who teaches her the value of compassion.
Meet the Assassin: beautiful, defiant, destined for greatness. Celaena Sardothien has challenged her master. Now she must pay the price. Her journey to the Red Desert will be an arduous one, but it ... (Goodreads)
In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom
by Yeonmi Park
A young woman's harrowing escape from North Korea and her struggle to survive and thrive in a new country.
Human rights activist Park, who fled North Korea with her mother in 2007 at age 13 and eventually made it to South Korea two years later after a harrowing ordeal, recognized that in order to be ... (Goodreads)
Nickel and Dimed: On
by Barbara Ehrenreich
A journalist's exploration of poverty in the U.S., exposing the struggles of low-wage workers.
Millions of Americans work full-time, year-round, for poverty-level wages. In 1998, Barbara Ehrenreich decided to join them. She was inspired in part by the rhetoric surrounding welfare reform, which ... (Goodreads)
The Girl With No Name
by Diney Costeloe
A young girl is evacuated from London during WWII and ends up in a new family, facing challenges and uncovering secrets about her past.
Thirteen-year-old Lisa has escaped from Nazi Germany on the Kindertransport. She arrives in London unable to speak a word of English, her few belongings crammed into a small suitcase. Among them is ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Twentieth Wife
by Indu Sundaresan
Epic tale of a powerful Mughal Empress, set against a backdrop of political intrigue and personal drama.
An enchanting seventeenth-century epic of grand passion and adventure, this debut novel tells the captivating story of one of India's most legendary and controversial empresses – a woman whose ... (Goodreads)
My Brilliant Career
by Miles Franklin
A young woman in rural Australia dreams of a life beyond marriage and motherhood, but struggles to reconcile her desires with societal expectations.
The heroine, Sybylla Melvyn, is an imaginative, headstrong girl growing up in rural Australia in the 1890s. Drought and a series of poor business decisions reduce her family to subsistence level, her ... (Wikipedia)
Jhereg
by Steven Brust
A fantasy adventure set in a magical realm of warring empires and powerful sorcery.
The novel opens with a brief history of Vlad Taltos and a description of how he acquired his jhereg familiar, Loiosh. Despite being an Easterner in the Dragaeran city of Adrilankha, Vlad is a minor ... (Wikipedia)
Hidden Figures
by Margot Lee Shetterly
The untold story of the African-American women who made invaluable contributions to NASA's space program in the 1960s.
The #1 New York Times Bestseller. Set amid the civil rights movement, the never-before-told true story of NASA’s African-American female mathematicians who played a crucial role in America’s space ... (Goodreads)
Sister Carrie
by Theodore Dreiser
A young woman's journey of ambition, navigating the opportunities and pitfalls of urban life.
Late 1889. Dissatisfied with life in her rural Wisconsin home, 18-year-old Caroline "Sister Carrie" Meeber takes the train to Chicago , where her older sister Minnie, and Minnie's husband, Sven ... (Wikipedia)
The Woman Who Rides Like a Man
by Tamora Pierce
Alanna continues her journey disguised as a man, facing challenges and discovering her true identity.
The third book sees Alanna through her journey through the Bazhir desert, where she and her manservant Coram are adopted by the Bloody Hawk tribe of the desert people Bazhir. During their stay, ... (Wikipedia)
Capitalism and Freedom
by Milton Friedman
Analysis of economic policies and their effects on individual liberty.
Selected by the Times Literary Supplement as one of the "hundred most influential books since the war" How can we benefit from the promise of government while avoiding the threat it poses to ... (Goodreads)
King Rat
by James Clavell
A tough prisoner of war's fight for survival in a Japanese POW camp.
The novel opens in early 1945. Peter Marlowe, a young British RAF Flight Lieutenant , has been a P.O.W. since 1942. Marlowe comes to the attention of the "King" - an American corporal who has become ... (Wikipedia)
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia
by Mohsin Hamid
A rags-to-riches story of a young man's journey to success in a changing world.
From the internationally bestselling author of The Reluctant Fundamentalist , the boldly imagined tale of a poor boy's quest for wealth and love. His first two novels established Mohsin Hamid as a ... (Goodreads)
Enrique's Journey
by Sonia Nazario
A young man's perilous search for his mother in the US, crossing the Mexican border.
A true story from award-winning journalist Sonia Nazario recounting the odyssey of a Honduran boy who braves hardship and peril to reach his mother in the United States. In this astonishing true ... (Goodreads)
Hidden Figures
by Margot Lee Shetterly
A recounting of the true story of three African-American women's contributions to NASA during the space race.
The uplifting, amazing true story—a New York Times bestseller This edition of Margot Lee Shetterly’s acclaimed book is perfect for young readers. It is the powerful story of four African-American ... (Goodreads)
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
by Mary Wollstonecraft
A pioneering work advocating for the political, social, and educational rights of women.
In the present state of society, it appears necessary to go back to first principles in search of the most simple truths, and to dispute with some prevailing prejudice every inch of ground. To clear ... (Goodreads)
Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution
by Michelle Moran
Historical novel of a young woman's struggle to survive in tumultuous 18th century France.
The world knows Madame Tussaud as a wax artist extraordinaire... but who was this woman who became one of the most famous sculptresses of all time? In these pages, her tumultuous and amazing story ... (Goodreads)
Out of the Easy
by Ruta Sepetys
A teenage girl's journey of self-discovery in the underworld of 1950s New Orleans.
It's 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel ... (Goodreads)
Trash
by Andy Mulligan
Three boys living in a dumpsite in Brazil find a wallet and become embroiled in a dangerous mystery.
In an unnamed Third World country, in the not-so-distant future, three “dumpsite boys” make a living picking through the mountains of garbage on the outskirts of a large city. One unlucky-lucky day, ... (Goodreads)
The Start-Up of You: Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform Your Career
by Reid Hoffman
A guide to building a successful career in the modern world, emphasizing adaptability and entrepreneurship.
6 hrs and 41 mins A blueprint for thriving in your job and career in today’s challenging world of work by applying the lessons of Silicon Valley’s most innovative entrepreneurs. The career escalator ... (Goodreads)
Sentence of Marriage
by Shayne Parkinson
A young woman in 19th century New Zealand navigates love, loss, and societal expectations in this historical romance novel.
"I won't have her forced," Jack said. "Let her decide for herself." Amy knew her father meant it. She could say no if she wanted. But this marriage would make everything all right. They could put all ... (Barnes & Noble)
Rich Man, Poor Man
by Irwin Shaw
A family saga spanning generations, exploring the power of money and its influence on relationships.
In the early parts of the novel Shaw goes to great lengths to make the point about "Jordache blood" – violent, bitter, resentful. One of the ways he does this is by meticulously describing the ... (Wikipedia)
The Magnolia Story
by Chip Gaines
The inspiring true story of Chip and Joanna Gaines, their journey in home renovation, and the faith that sustains their marriage.
A National Bestseller - New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher's Weekly. Now available in paperback with a new chapter. Fall in love with Chip and Joanna Gaines, as you read their ... (Barnes & Noble)
Gentlemen of the Road
by Michael Chabon
Two Jewish warriors of fortune on a wild journey through the Middle East.
The story centers on two world-traveling Jewish bandits who style themselves with the euphemism "gentlemen of the road." Amram is a hulking Abyssinian (African) who is equally proficient with an axe ... (Wikipedia)
Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High
by Melba Pattillo Beals
An autobiographical account of a young African American student's struggle to attend an all-white high school in 1957.
In this essential autobiographical account by one of the Civil Rights Movement’s most powerful figures, Melba Pattillo Beals of the Little Rock Nine explores not only the oppressive force of racism, ... (Goodreads)
Lost Horizon
by James Hilton
A plane crash lands in the Himalayas, leading to the discovery of a hidden utopian society called Shangri-La.
Hugh Conway, a veteran member of the British diplomatic service, finds inner peace, love and a sense of purpose in Shangri-La , whose inhabitants enjoy unheard-of longevity . The prologue and ... (Wikipedia)
The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates
by Wes Moore
Two men of the same name, with different life stories, highlighting the power of choices.
Two kids with the same name lived in the same decaying city. One went on to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated combat veteran, White House Fellow, and business leader. The other is serving a life ... (Goodreads)
The Fixer
by Bernard Malamud
A Jewish handyman is wrongly accused of murder in Tsarist Russia and must navigate a corrupt legal system to prove his innocence.
A classic that won Malamud both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. The Fixer (1966) is Bernard Malamud's best-known and most acclaimed novel—one that makes manifest his roots in Russian ... (Goodreads)
Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think
by Peter H. Diamandis
An optimistic look at the future, exploring how humanity's greatest challenges can be solved.
Providing abundance is humanity’s grandest challenge—this is a book about how we rise to meet it. We will soon be able to meet and exceed the basic needs of every man, woman and child on the planet. ... (Goodreads)
Chomsky On Anarchism
by Noam Chomsky
A collection of essays and interviews by Noam Chomsky on the topic of anarchism, its history, and its relevance to contemporary society.
We all know what Noam Chomsky is against. His scathing analysis of everything that’s wrong with our society reaches more and more people every day. His brilliant critiques of—among other ... (Goodreads)
Gai-Jin
by James Clavell
A tale of political intrigue, cultural clashes, and forbidden love in 19th century Japan.
The story opens with a fictional rendition of the Namamugi Incident . On September 14, 1862, Phillip Tyrer, John Canterbury, Angelique Richaud, and Malcolm Struan are riding on the Tōkaidō , when ... (Wikipedia)
The Twelve Chairs
by Ilya Ilf
A comedic tale of two men's quest for hidden jewels in a chair with a secret compartment.
In the Soviet Union in 1927, a former Marshal of Nobility , Ippolit Matveyevich "Kisa" Vorobyaninov, works as the registrar of marriages and deaths in a sleepy provincial town. His mother-in-law ... (Wikipedia)
Thieves' World
by Robert Lynn Asprin
A collection of short stories set in the city of Sanctuary, where thieves, assassins, and other unsavory characters thrive.
Oct. 1979 ACE mass market paperback,2nd impression, no ISBN. Robert Asprin, Lynn Abbey. A fantasy anthology with a twist. All different stories from different authors, all in the same town. ... (Goodreads)
Lottery
by Patricia Wood
Perry, a mentally challenged man, wins the lottery and must navigate his newfound wealth and relationships.
Perry's IQ is only 76, but he's not stupid. His grandmother taught him everything he needs to know to survive: She taught him to write things down so he won't forget them. She taught him to play the ... (Goodreads)
Make Lemonade
by Virginia Euwer Wolff
A teenage mother takes a job cleaning for a writer and learns to make the best of her situation.
An award-winning novel about growing up and making choices, Virginia Euwer Wolff's groundbreaking novel, written in free verse, tells the story of fourteen-year-old LaVaughn, who is determined to go ... (Goodreads)
A Conspiracy of Paper
by David Liss
A historical mystery set in 18th century London, following a Jewish detective as he uncovers a conspiracy involving the stock market and his own family.
Benjamin Weaver, a Jew and an ex-boxer, is an outsider in eighteenth-century London, tracking down debtors and felons for aristocratic clients. The son of a wealthy stock trader, he lives estranged ... (Goodreads)
Up from Slavery
by Booker T. Washington
Autobiographical account of a former slave's journey to success and educational reform.
Booker T. Washington, the most recognized national leader, orator and educator, emerged from slavery in the deep south, to work for the betterment of African Americans in the post Reconstruction ... (Goodreads)
Fyre
by Angie Sage
A young girl discovers she has magical powers and must navigate a dangerous world of magic and politics to save her family and friends.
The seventh book in the internationally bestselling Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage, featuring the funny and fantastic adventures of a wizard apprentice and his quest to become an ExtraOrdinary ... (Barnes & Noble)
Independent Study
by Joelle Charbonneau
Cia Vale continues her education at the University, where she uncovers dark secrets and must fight for her survival.
In the series debut The Testing , sixteen-year-old Cia Vale was chosen by the United Commonwealth government as one of the best and brightest graduates of all the colonies . . . a promising leader in ... (Barnes & Noble)
In the Sea There are Crocodiles: Based on the True Story of Enaiatollah Akbari
by Fabio Geda
Enaiatollah Akbari's journey from Afghanistan to Italy as a child refugee, facing danger and uncertainty along the way.
When a ten-year-old boy's village in Afghanistan falls prey to Taliban rule, his mother shepherds the boy across the border into Pakistan but has to leave him there all alone to fend for himself. ... (Goodreads)
The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child
by Francisco Jiménez
A collection of autobiographical stories about a young boy and his family's struggles as migrant workers in California.
These independent but intertwined stories follow a migrant family through their circuit, from picking cotton and strawberries to topping carrots - and back again - over a number of years. As it moves ... (Goodreads)
The Commitments
by Roddy Doyle
A group of Irish youths form a soul band, learning lessons of friendship and responsibility.
Two friends — Derek Scully and "Outspan" Foster — get together to form a band, but soon realise that they don't know enough about the music business to get much further than their small neighbourhood ... (Wikipedia)
The Crown's Game
by Evelyn Skye
Two enchanters compete in a magical duel to become the Imperial Enchanter, but their growing feelings for each other complicate the game.
"Gorgeous and richly imagined."—Sara Raasch, New York Times bestselling author of the Snow Like Ashes series "Teeming with hidden magic and fiery romance."—Sabaa Tahir, #1, New York Times, ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Last Shot: City Streets, Basketball Dreams
by Darcy Frey
A gripping account of high school basketball players in Coney Island, Brooklyn, and their pursuit of a better life through the sport.
It ought to be just a game, but basketball on the playgrounds of Coney Island is much more than that — for many young men it represents their only hope of escape from a life of crime, poverty, and ... (Goodreads)
The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street
by Susan Jane Gilman
A rags-to-riches story of Lillian Dunkle, who rises from a Russian immigrant to an ice cream mogul, but at a great personal cost.
A clever and complex woman builds an ice cream empire after immigrating from Russia in this stunning novel of power, Prohibition, and performance set against the backdrop of early 20th-century ... (Barnes & Noble)
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